Happy belated Birthday America!

Ok so I made the cheater version... but it was still delicious!

Williamsburg, VA

Here ye! Here ye!

This weekend we went to Williamsburg, VA, and I have to tell you I was pleasantly surprised. The food was amazing (try Trellis, and get the Trout), the people were so nice, and it was beautiful weather (minus the 98 degree weather).

The first day we went to Busch Gardens, which by theme park standards is extremely different from anything I've ever experienced. This place is clean. I don't even think I saw an ant anywhere! I rode ever roller coaster they had (which was only four) and sat in the front row everytime. The lines were miniscule, and longest we waited was for a LAME log ride that might as well been a dry ride. I stopped by the restroom afterwards and splooshed myself to cool down... so pathetic. I was disappointed however that 1)there were minimal trashy tattoos, which is admittedly one of my favorite parts about theme parks, and 2)they did not serve beer in Germany. WHAT?!? That is exactly what I said. The park is seperated into countries, and I was SO excited to get to Germany and have a beer. I mean it is BUSCH gardens after all. No beer to be found. O, and somewhere along the line we saw bald eagles and sheep... not together of course.

After sitting in the sun for hours, it was time for something more colonial. If you visit Williamsburg, definitely stay at the Williamsburg Inn or Lodge. It's the only way to go. I searched online for the best deal, and decided to not take a chance on a Howard Johnson or Ramada, and just go to the Inn. I'm so glad I did. the other hotels are on a strip that may as well be Nyrtle BEach without the beach. If you going to Williamsburg and prefer an Applebees to a local establishment then stay on the strip. If you want an original experience close to Williamsburg downtown, spend $20 extra and go to the Williamsburg Inn/Lodge.

The next day was filled with some shopping and walking around Williamsburg. What a cute little place, and a great getaway.
I call these the fences of Williamsburg...

Overworked...under-blogged

Hi Grandma!!! So there were two very distinct incidents that made me realize I needed to back to blogging. One happened the last time I was at home, and a friend of a friend approached me at the bar. This is a guy that I see maybe three or four times a year, and not someone I have in my phonebook. You know the type. We were hanging out with a large group of friends at a bar in Columbus, Ohio engaging in the friendly chit chat you do with a friend you only see once in a great while. You know, "Hi." "How are you?" "Why haven't you written on your blog lately?" What?!? Defintely not something I expected to hear. It's kind of cool to hear that people you don't expect to care about your trivial bloggings, actually acknowledge your writing... at a bar. Ha! Who would've thunk it?

The other reason is obvious. Grandma said I had to. And everyone knows that is if Grandma's happy, everyone's happy...

So the new job has been keeping me from blogging. That's okay though. Busy is good. I will never complain about busy. What's that saying? Idle hands do writer's... okay nevermind.

DC snow globe

You would probably think that living in a winter wonderland would be amazing. It's kind of like a shaken up snow globe with magical little snow flakes drifting through the water colored landscape of our nation's capital. Little children are making snowmen and engaging in playful snowball bouts. Dogs are frolicking in the white powdery drifts while their human counterparts sip on hot cocoa and various wine products around the crackling fire.

Here's the real deal: This sucks! Day 5.5 snowed in, and the natives of DC snow globe land are getting restless. Steve's quaint little neighborhood has turned into a parking space battleground as neighbors fight for the last spot not taken by mounding snow piles. Apparently 25 percent of the snow plows here are broken, with another 25 percent being 2-wheel drive and it didn't seem that they were being used appropriately when they were in peak working condition. The children have giving up on hot cocoa and snow balls, and they have now turned to complete boredom. The dogs are still frolicking, but I think ours is losing her mind. I caught her licking a bare wall this morning. "The snausberries taste like snausberries!" If doggie cabin fever exists, she is definitely a victim.

Living in a snow globe is officially over rated! The radio stations and news personalities have run out of clever puns abut the storm. I am running out of board games to play, and the wine supply is getting low. I have made every type of snow creature and structure, and climbed the biggest snow mound in the the neighborhood! Every episode of crummy reality television has been watched, and I even caught myself watching TV Land's "High School Reunion"! The madness has set in, and I have aged 40 years, now putting together a 750 piece puzzle of the New York skyline. (I can't wait to finish it. It glows in the dark!)

As a child, I sometimes prayed for a snow day, but now I find myself praying to go back to work! Please send wine...

Snowpocalypse

As the Chicken Littles of the DC Metro area descended into every grocery store and bought every loaf of bread possible yesterday I realized something... What the heck are they freaking out about? And how exactly is bread going to help? I knew I was in trouble when my friend Josh referred to the previous 4 inches we got earlier in the week as "the last snow storm". This one would be significantly bigger. It makes me thankful that I am from the great state of Ohio where the snow plows run free, and the counties don't go into a state of complete panic over a little snow. Yes, I know. This is not going to be a little snow. But it certainly is not a reason to act as insane as some of my DC brethren these last few days. I chatted with a Floridian friend the other day,and was asking her about hurricanes. She said that this reminded her of the reactions of people down south when a big storm is coming. So can't we react the same? Can't we hold one of those "hurricane parties" I hear so much about? I know I will. I will be here my friends, holed up in my apartment with a bottle of Ketel One and my lengthy unwatched DVR recordings.

Now, I have to admit something. I bought bread. I walked into Trader Joe's yesterday, and the chaos and R.E.M's "End of the World" playing on the store's speakers broke me down into the groupthink mentality. I snagged the last 12 grain on the display and rushed out of the store victorious. And as I returned home with my prize I realized I didn't even need it. I already had a loaf and a half sitting on my shelf.

What I am upset about is that they were out of sleds! How am I supposed to dog sled race with no sled? I hear trash can lids work just fine...

Bobby

This weekend I joined thousands of others who descended into Arlington National Cemetery to pay their respects to the fallen this holiday season at Wreaths Across America. I don't know anyone personally who is buried in the cemetery, but I just couldn't pass up this opportunity to salute those who now lay in peace within its gates. After I got my wreath to put on a grave, I walked around for awhile to try and find a place to put it. After reading many grave stones, I noticed one without a wreath in a long line of graves already adorned. His name was Robert F. Eckert, and if he were still alive today he would be my age. This was definitely the one. As I lay the wreath, fixing the bow so it would be just right, I quietly thanked him for his service.

After some research when I returned home, I found out that "Bobby" was an Ohioan just like me. He was from Cleveland, and over 6 feet tall. He served 3 tours oversees, and was a purple heart recipient. When on leave at home the last time, he asked his mother to promise to bury him in Arlington. Bobby seemed to be one of those guys who always knew he was going to be a Marine, and after a lot of hard work, I bet he was a damn good one.

This is from Arlington National Cemetery's Web site
"Lance Corporal Robert F. Eckfield Jr., 23, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Lance Corporal Jared J. Kremm, 24, of Hauppage, New York, died October 27, 2005, from an indirect fire explosion in Saqlawiyah, Iraq. Kremm died at the scene while Eckfield succumbed to his wounds at a nearby medical center. Both were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina."

I obviously didn't know Bobby, but if I could tell him one thing it would be thank you. I don't know if his family was there Saturday, and if so I'm sorry for taking your wreaths spot. If they weren't able to attend, Bobby still got a very thankful visitor, an Ohioan friend. I would also tell them thank you for their sacrifice, something no one should ever have to go through. I have no idea what it was like to be in his boots, but I like to think that my prayers get to those guys over there everyday.

This was a truly humbling experience, and I am thankful for the opportunity to attend. It's an amazing way to let these families know that their sacrifice and love for their fallen will never be taken for granted. Fortunately I can not relate to the magnitude of their loss, but I continue to pray for each of them every day.

Christmas mittens

I am obsessed with mittens this year. While at Target, I stumbled upon mitten-gate 2009. I purchased mitten ornaments, a picture frame, hand towels and a tree skirt. Adorable! Thanks Kayla for your decorating help! :)

Hello 27!

When are you considered "old"? There comes a point in everyone's life when people start to consider them old. I found this to be true when recently I turned 27, and when telling someone this, they started giving me the "old" look. Almost liek they want to follow that look with, "O, I'm sorry." GREAT!

Personally, I just think that it is a sign of the times. The other night I was watching "Mad Men", and one of the characters mentioned that another character was -gasp- in her thirties. Clearly she was washed up, and would end up as an old hag. (She recently got engaged- SO THERE!)

Also while talking to my Grandma, I am reminded that when she was my age, she had two children. This is all well and good in both situations. That is the way things were done back then. Fortunately that is not the way we do it now. We also don't smoke in the office as they did in the 60's based show. Gross!

Ironically, I find that most of my college graduate female friends that are 25-30, are not married, and not stressing out about it. Yes, I have a few that are already married, and baby fever hasn't started yet for any of them (thank God), and I just want to note that this situation is just fine. The ones that aren't married though are all great catches, dating and successful in their careers. I'm just waiting for the eerie calm to subside, and the ticking of the clock to start. Yikes! All in due time my friends...all in due time.

For now I am having a great time, and although the years tick by, I will never grow up! Ha!

What is a Buckeye?

A buckeye is a nut. A poisonous nut to be exact. So probably you would want to eat them. BUT when recreated as a peanut butter and chocolate treat they are equally as deadly... I made some this weekend for the Ohio State v Michigan game, and people at work had no doubt who they were rooting for on game day. I was pretty popular for about a half hour!! Ha!

Here's the recipe...

2 cups peanut butter
5 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 tbsp vanilla
2 sticks butter
12 oz chocolate chips
1/2 bar paraffin wax
toothpicks
wax paper

Mix together sugar, peanut butter, butter and vanilla. Let the mixture chill, and form into balls. Then mix paraffin and chocolate chips in a double boiler. Dip the peanut butter balls in chocolate and let sit on the wax paper. Put them in the fridge for a few hours, and ta-da! You will have instant popularity in your workplace or tailgate party!!!

Isn't Brutus adorable? Nothing scarier than a poisonous nut-head!

Halloween 2009

There's nothing like a bunch of adults dressed up in costumes. No other day would that be acceptable Thank goodness for Halloween!

I had a party this year, and was pretty impressed with our decorating skills. For such a clean person, Steve is really good with cob webs!
And I definitely learned a thing or two about dry ice. Be careful! If you put too much in a caldren it will freeze your whole brew into one big slushy block!

Spooky!
Some costumes were funny...
Some were cute...

And some were really scary!